The Hobgoblins: A Novel on John Bunyan / Mary Bunyan: A Tale of Religious Persecution and Heroic Faith

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 27; pp. 125 - 132
• Main Author: McDonald, Larry Steven
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Academic writing; Biographies; Blindness; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Christianity; Christians; Creative writing; Dickens, Charles (1812-1870); English literature; Families & family life; History; Imagination; Jewish people; Lewis, C S (1898-1963); Novels; Pilgrims; Religious literature; Religious persecution; Spirituality; Writing
• ISSN: 0954-0970

Closely tied to this genre are biographical novels, which focus on a fictional account of a real person's life, such as Irving Stone's Lust for Life about Vincent van Gogh.1 In recent years there has been a renewal of the writing of biographical novels for and about Christians. [...]although much has been written by and about Corrie ten Boom,2 the Dutch heroine who protected Jews in World War II, her family has now been depicted in novels which focus on her sister, Betsie ten Boom, and her nephew, Kik ten Boom.3 The Hobgoblins Following in this trend of biographical novels, Douglas Bond has written The Hobgoblins: A Novel on John Bunyan.4 Bond is director of the Oxford Creative Writing Master Class, adjunct instructor of history and creative writing at three academic institutions, and leader of church history tours in Europe. Harry feels like he knows Bunyan's heart, and that the change is merely a fad. In addition to furnishing her father and family with basic needs, Mary also frequently sought Bunyan's freedom before the civil authorities, appealing on his behalf to King Charles II.